Women’s team put seven past Central

Betfred Cup group stage draw

Crowds up at Fir Park

Squad update: May 2018

Campbell stars as Scotland U21s win

Allan Campbell was again in the starting team as Scotland Under 21s recorded a 2-1 win over South Korea at the Toulon Tournament.

The Motherwell midfield regular played his third consecutive match at the tournament as the young Scots followed up their win over France in midweek.

Chelsea’s Billy Gilmour and West Bromwich Albion winger Oliver Burke were on the scoresheet in the victory against the Koreans.

Campbell’s club team mate Chris Cadden will also hope to pull on the dark blue jersey this weekend, as the men’s senior A squad take on Mexico at 1am UK time on Sunday.

Club

Strong uptake in season tickets

Wednesday 30 May 2018

Season ticket sales for the 2018/19 campaign have almost doubled, compared to the same first three weeks of sale the previous year.

After an encouraging 2017/18 under manager Stephen Robinson, which saw the Steelmen reach both national cup finals for the first time in 67 years, we asked you to fuel the fire and make your investment in building on what has been started by the team.

We’d like to thank every single one of you for securing your seat and giving your backing to what we are aiming to achieve in 2018/19.

Season tickets are still available at the early bird price, so get yours before 8 June to secure a discounted price.

We hope that you too want to renew your season ticket and continue your unwavering support as we look to create even more memories.

Many of our great deals from past seasons have been retained. Juvenile tickets have been frozen at £20, and those who purchase adult or concession season tickets can still get up to two juvenile season tickets for free.

This year it’s even easier to buy or renew. You’ll be able to enjoy early bird prices and the convenience of buying quickly and easily online at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. There’s also the option to purchase by post, at Fir Park or on the telephone as usual.

SEASON TICKET PRICES

Phil O’Donnell Stand

Early bird

Regular price

Adults

£404

£425

Concessions

£235

£245

Juveniles

£20

£20

Davie Cooper Stand

Early bird

Regular price

Adults

£335

£350

Concessions

£200

£210

Juveniles

£20

£20

John Hunter Stand

Early bird

Regular price

Adults

£315

£330

Concessions

£175

£185

Juveniles

£20

£20

Concessions are applicable to those aged 60 and over, 16-18 year olds and full time students with a valid matriculation card. Juveniles are applicable to those aged 15 and under.

And as he entered the fray with around five minutes remaining in the heat of Lima, it marked a memorable day for Chris, his family, and Motherwell Football Club too.

No player has appeared in Scotland colours whilst plying their trade at Fir Park since Steven Saunders in 2010.

[pullquote]To have travelled with the first team, got some valuable experience out here in Lima and then to have got my first cap was brilliant.[/pullquote]

And Chris, reflecting on a first cap for his country, said: “It’s obviously a moment I’ll never forget. It’s something that my family and I are extremely proud of and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity.

“The scoreline was obviously not what we would have wanted, but to have travelled with the first team, got some valuable experience out here in Lima and then to have got my first cap was brilliant.”

A proud Scot and a humble man, Chris is equally thrilled by earning his first cap, as much as he is hungry for more.

“It’s something I want to build on,” he explained. “Getting that experience and being around the group has made me determined to build on things from here.”

Off the pitch, Motherwell’s number seven has barely had a rest, with his phone being bombarded with messages.

“There’s been a few messages that’s for sure,” the midfielder joked, “but no, in all honesty it’s great hearing all the kind words from friends and family and it just makes it sink in a bit more to be honest.”

There’s an immediate opportunity for the youngster to follow up on his first cap, with Scotland back in action on Sunday as they take on Mexico.

First team

Trevor Carson keeps NI clean sheet

Wednesday 30 May 2018

Trevor Carson played his part in Northern Ireland keeping a clean sheet in their 0-0 draw away to Panama.

The Motherwell goalkeeper played the first 45 minutes in Panama City, in what was his second appearance for his country.

Carson will be in contention to feature again for his country when they play Costa Rica in San Jose on Sunday.

First team

Chris Cadden makes Scotland debut

Wednesday 30 May 2018

Motherwell youth academy graduate Chris Cadden made his first appearance in Scotland colours on Wednesday morning.

The 21-year-old, an ever-present for the Steelmen and one of our most consistent performers, was rewarded for his progression by coming on as a late substitute in the nation’s friendly defeat in Peru.

Cadden replaced Kenny McLean in the 87th minute in Lima, as Alex McLeish’s side lost 2-0 in the first of two international matches. Scotland next travel to face Mexico on Sunday morning.

Everyone at Motherwell FC is delighted for Chris and are immensely proud to see him represent Scotland at full senior level.

His appearance marks the first for Scotland by a current Motherwell player since Steven Saunders in 2010.

Club

An update from Alan Burrows

Monday 28 May 2018

Chief executive Alan Burrows provides an insight into the work going on behind the scenes at Fir Park this summer to ensure nobody becomes complacent and a strong 2017/18 season is built upon.

Women

Women’s team put seven past Central

Sunday 27 May 2018

Motherwell Ladies tightened their grip on top spot of the SWPL2 table with an excellent 7-2 victory over Central Girls at Alloa’s Indodrill Stadium.

It is the ninth successive league win for the women of steel, who have now netted 46 times in their opening 10 league fixtures.

They had to do things the hard way however, after falling behind inside the opening minute when Kim McAlpine struck a superb dipping effort into the roof of Clare Johnstone’s net.

Two minutes later, Motherwell completed the turnaround. Mulvey linked with Kirsty McLaughlin, who did brilliantly to release Reside. She angled a shot beyond the keeper that found the net off the inside of the post for her first goal of the season.

With four minutes remaining of the first half, ‘Well went 3-1 ahead. Cunningham’s cross was nodded on by Caitlin Russell and then Niamh Johnston, before a mix-up in the Central defence ended with Shaney McCabe heading into her own net.

It was harsh on the hosts who had more than held their own in a fiercely contested first half, but it wasn’t to be the end of the action. A minute before half time, Abbie Callaghan’s free kick wasn’t cleared by the Motherwell defence and Kimberley-Anne McAlpine lashed the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

After conceding early and late in the first 45 minutes, it was imperative Motherwell were quick out of the traps as the second half began. They managed to do exactly that, scoring within the first 90 seconds.

Russell did well to cut back for Hare, who was denied by an excellent stop. But ‘Well were quick to react and McLaughlin laid the ball back to Cunningham to guide a low effort beyond the keeper.

‘Well were playing with great intensity, so it came as little surprise on 55 minutes when the persistence of Reside in closing down what seemed like a lost cause was rewarded by a poor error in the Central defence. Hare was alert to pounce on the loose ball before blasting into the empty net to stretch the lead to 5-2.

Having played a big role in Motherwell’s attacking threat, Russell got into scoring act with 20 remaining – firing home after the home defence failed to deal with Cunningham’s dangerous corner. The provider of the sixth would then close the scoring on 76 minutes when she converted Mulvey’s cross.

The visitors continued to threaten and Megan Burns would rattle the crossbar in the closing stages and although there were no further goals, little could take the shine off what was a superb second half display from Motherwell.

Motherwell now maintain their eight-point advantage at the top of the table and – not for the first time – demonstrated their ability to fightback from a goal behind.

Next up is a trip north to face Aberdeen next Sunday.

First team

Betfred Cup group stage draw

Friday 25 May 2018

Motherwell will face Queen of the South, Clyde, Edinburgh City and Stranraer in the group stage of the 2018/19 Betfred Cup.

The Steelmen, the defeated finalists in the 2017/18 competition, were top seeds in Friday’s draw and will play in Group G.

The group stage will see us play four games across five match dates: 14 July, 18 July, 21 July, 25 July and 28 July.

Fixtures will be announced in due course, following broadcast selections by BT Sport.

Club

Crowds up at Fir Park

Tuesday 22 May 2018

Attendances at Fir Park in the Ladbrokes Premiership saw the biggest increase across the league in the 2017/18 season.

A total of 108,969 people watched our league games across the campaign, a rise of 28% from 2016/17.

Motherwell home matches were the seventh highest attended in the country and were the biggest outside of teams from the major cities.

With the team having reached both cup finals and narrowly missing out on a place in the top six, there’s great momentum behind the side as we prepare for the new season.

Your continued support is vital to ensure we keep building on what we’ve started. Season tickets for 2018/19 are on sale now and are available at a discounted rate until 8 June.

Squad update: May 2018

The following players will leave the club when their contract expires at the end on 31 May 2018.

Russell Griffiths

Deimantas Petravičius

Ellis Plummer

Luke Watt (Under 20s)

Dylan King (Under 20s)

The following loans will expire when the summer transfer window opens again in early June:

Tom Aldred (Bury)

Nadir Çiftçi (Celtic)

Stephen Hendrie (Southend United)

Stephen Craigan has offered the following youngsters extended terms with the club:

Shea Gordon

Adam Livingstone

Barry Maguire

James Scott

Peter Morrison

Jason Krones

Jordan Armstrong

Shaun Bowers

Alfredo Agyeman

‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said: “I would like to put on record my thanks to each of the lads leaving the club this week.

“Although Russell, Deimantas and Ellis weren’t regular starters in our first team for whatever reason, they contributed significantly by being great professionals and pushing those who were playing.

“I’d also like to record my appreciation to Tom, Nadir and Stephen, who joined us during the January window and helped us finish the season so strongly.

“We have been working on recruiting new players over the last few weeks. This summer will be different to last, where we made wholesale changes to the squad. We are more concentrated on fine tuning and tweaking certain areas, adding things we think we’re missing and that’s our mission.”

Motherwell Football Club would like to sincerely thank every player who is leaving Fir Park for the last time and wish them all every success in their future career.